What records does Oranga Tamariki have?

Who does Oranga Tamariki create records about?

Oranga Tamariki should have records about you if:  

• you were adopted after 1960
  • if you were adopted before 1960 the only record Oranga Tamariki may have could be an index card with basic information
• you were in a state (government) institution or other welfare institution  
• you were in foster care, a Family Home or with foster parents  
• you were placed with a member of your extended whānau
• there was a concern raised about your guardianship or care. 

Your records are likely to include things like:  

• social worker notes  
• reports about you and your family  
• notes from conversations with you, your parents, or your caregivers
• financial and administrative documents 

Other records of interest Oranga Tamariki holds that you can request include: 

• information about their residences, homes and other institutions 
• their policies about the care of children. 

What records might be missing from Oranga Tamariki? 

Learning that your records may be missing, can bring up a range of emotions. It can be helpful to have someone to talk to. Learn where you can find support. 

Sometimes the records you are requesting may be missing or no longer exist. You have the right to ask Oranga Tamariki what happened and why.

From April 2017, Oranga Tamariki is not allowed to destroy your records.

If a record is missing, Oranga Tamariki have told us it might be because: 

• the record's movements into or out of storage were not correctly noted, it was put in the wrong box, or not returned to storage after someone had requested it
• it was destroyed under a previous disposal authority (permission for a government agency to get rid of records, under the Public Records Act 2005)
• it was destroyed or damaged due to fire, flooding or other natural disasters.